Longtime PlayStation 2 owners probably remember one of the first titles on the system, ATV Offroad Fury. A good racing title that demonstrated the physics and speed of the system, Fury was one of those launch games with plenty of replayability thanks to its multiple levels of difficulty. Its sequel provided additional tracks, bikes and customization options for players, extending the title into a viable racing franchise. Taking over the reigns from Rainbow Studios, Climax Studios has reenvisioned the entire Fury series, expanding just about every single facet of the title. Grab a helmet and start your engines, because weíre taking off with ATV Offroad Fury 3.

Some of you Fury fans might be worried about just whatís been done to your offroading action. Instead of cutting back on the action, Climax has managed to expand it substantially, creating larger tracks, free riding areas and arenas to ride in. Along with the larger environments, players will have plenty more options to customize their riders and their rides in general. At last count, Fury 3 looks like it will include at least 20 separate vehicles, along with a number of substantial performance tweaks to increase your chances in competition.

While performance ratings are usually found in most racing games, Fury 3 is one of those few titles where players actively control how effectively these stats are used during a race. Fury requires pre-loading your shocks to maximize distance over jumps and other obstacles on courses, enabling riders to launch themselves through the air. This skill will come in handy with the main race types found in the game: Enduro, National, Supercross and Short Track racing. Players will have the option to define each race as they see fit, such as the number of laps or AI difficulty. This doesnít count the other game modes that werenít available in the demo, such as Online play or the mini-games that were so popular in the previous titles, like Soccer, King of the Hill or Treasure Hunt.

The entire graphics engine of Fury 3 has been overhauled as well, making the riders and their animations truly stand out against the track. This extends from everything from the subtle shifts in weight in turns and jumps to the tricks and extreme crashes on hard landings. Bolstered with a hard rock soundtrack, this title looks like itíll be a significant addition to racerís libraries when it spins onto shelves in a few weeks. Check back soon for a full review!

Questions or comments about the upcoming release of ATV Offroad Fury 3 for the PlayStation 2? Talk to us!